There are four types of criminal charges handled by the DC Superior Court: felonies, U.S. misdemeanors, D.C. misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases. U.S. misdemeanors are the more serious misdemeanor charges and are prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office. U.S. misdemeanor charges may include: misdemeanor drug possession, simple assault, threats to do bodily harm, prostitution, and a variety of other charges. Felonies and U.S. misdemeanors are referred to as U.S. matters.

The D.C. Attorney General’s Office prosecutes D.C. misdemeanors and criminal traffic charges. D.C. misdemeanor charges may include drinking in public, possession of an open container of alcohol, panhandling, welfare fraud, housing code violations, and a variety of other charges. Criminal traffic charges include drunk driving, driving without a valid driver's permit, and similar offenses. D.C. misdemeanor and traffic charges are together referred to as D.C. matters.